red lights


concert reviews	basement tapes	cd reviews	interviews	features

Nearly two decades of amazing charity
and music from the father of "Shock Rock"

Alice Cooper's 17th Annual Christmas Pudding
Celebrity Theatre
Phoenix, AZ
December 14, 2019

Alice Cooper

Rob Halford

Johnny Depp

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

Alice Cooper has been performing and producing his yearly fundraising variety show for nearly two decades now and each show seems to be better than ever. The profits go to his vocational teen center The Solid Rock Teen Center in Phoenix. The center promotes all aspects of the arts including music, dance, painting, photography, and much more. The big announcement for the night was their plans to open another teen center in Mesa, Ariz.

Music, comedy and dance were paramount during this five-hour show with Cooper and his original band from the 1970s headlining the extravaganza. Dennis Dunaway, Neil Smith, and Michael Bruce were joined by Joe Bonamassa and Johnny Depp during their magical set that rounded out the evening.

Cooper remains one of the greatest entertainers of his generation, even on a night like this when there are none of his usual props like his graveyard, snake, or guillotine. Smith remains a force of nature, rising from behind his drums. Bruce was all smiles, from the opening riff of the first song to the moment in "Under My Wheels" where he offset Cooper's vocal with "Got you, baby, under my wheels." Dunaway has his own charisma thing going down as he pranced across the stage in his dark glasses playing bass.

Sister Sledge actually opened and closed the evening with their mega-hit song "We Are Family." The over-riding theme of the night was being in a family. The ladies gave us a thrilling a Capella version of "Silent Night." The Christmas spirit continued with a large-scale production of "Little Drummer Boy" presented by the Rock Solid Dancers, the Teen Center's Bucket Bridge, the Cesar Chavez High School Drumline, the Horizon High School Choir, and the Rocky Mountain Ball Theatre ballet. The crowd was surrounded by the drummers playing from the aisles in the theatre. Stunning guitar shredding was the order for the night with music served up by Nita Strauss, Joe Bonamassa, Mark Slaughter, Michael Bruce, Nunu Bettencourt, Johnny Depp and the house band, Sixwire.

Comedy was supplied by Gary Mule Deer and Jim Breyer. Both gave a hilarious break from the music.

Rob Halford filled the bill for the legend slot of the night, next to Alice that is. The venue was filled with Judas Priest fans who were dancing and singing to "Heading Out to the Highway," "Diamonds and Rust," "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight," and "You've Got Another Thing Coming."

Gary Cherone and Nunu Bettencourt of Extreme added more charm and charisma with "Get the Funk Out," "Hole in My Heart," and their mega hit "More Than You Know."

Alice Cooper's Christmas has become such an incredible tradition in Phoenix, it does feel like Christmas without this spectacular musical event. All other holiday shows pale in comparison.

To learn more about the Solid Rock Foundation's activities and to contribute, go to: www.alicecoopersolidrock.com